Print system and information processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

It is desirable for a user to perform optimum printing business in an environment of a print system used by the user, without being conscious of a function of forming document printing data by a server and a function of forming the document printing data by a client. If software for the function of forming the document printing data by the client is installed in a terminal of the client operated by the user, document-form data and document data are distributed from the server to the client in order to use the function.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/143,794,file May 14, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,243, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a network print system for printing adocument or the like by generating print data representing the documentor the like, via a network.

2. Description of the Related Art

As the Internet has rapidly developed and a large number of Web servershave appeared, business processing through the Web has been progressing.Business processing by a Web browser and a Web server has been widelyadopted in which a personal computer connected to a network only mountsthe Web browser capable of displaying and inputting information. In sucha case, information necessary for business processing is exchangedbetween the Web server and the Web browser.

The Web server receives information input from the Web browser,processes the information within the Web server, and transmits theprocessed information to the Web browser. The Web server displays theprocessed information. By repeating such an operation, business isachieved.

Problems in business processing by the Web browser and the Web serverrelate to print processing which is indispensable in businessprocessing. Particularly, a beautiful print conforming to a format for adocument or the like cannot be obtained.

Although an ordinary Web browser provides a print function, thisfunction causes a printer controlled by the Web browser (or a printercontrolled by a computer where the Web browser is started) to print ahard copy of an image displayed on the Web browser. In this printsystem, when printing an image whose size exceeds a sheet size or animage present on a plurality of pages, there exists a problem of how theimage is to be divided on different pages, and a print desired by theuser cannot be provided in most cases.

In order to solve such a problem, a print system can be considered inwhich a print-system server having a Web server generates print-imagedata (for example, document printing data) in accordance with aninstruction from a Web browser, and the generated data is distributed toa client where the Web browser is started. In this print system, theserver always generates printing data corresponding to each instruction,and sequentially transmits generated data to the client. This functionis termed a server-side making function.

In this print system via a Web browser, final print-image data isgenerated at the print-system server side. Accordingly, if request areintensively generated from a large number of clients, the load at theprint-system server side increases. Particularly, intensive generationof requests from a large number of clients is a characteristic in anetwork system via the Web.

Furthermore, since print-image data is generated utilizing a printerdriver at the print-system server side, in order to cause a printer toprint the print-image data at the client side, a printer driver at theclient side must sometimes be identical to the printer driver at theprint-system server side.

In addition, the amount of print-image data generated at theprint-system server side increase depending on the contents of the data.If the print-image data is distributed to the client side, the load ofthe network also increases.

In order to solve such problems, in another approach, by distributingform data used for generating print-image data to the client sideinstead of distributing print-image data from the print-system serverside, and providing a plurality of types of locations for storingdistributed form data at the client side, overlay processing forgenerating print-image data can be efficiently and effectivelyperformed. This function is termed a client-side making function.

However, a user who is not familiar with a print system cannot sometimesknow whether or not the client-side making function can be utilized atthe terminal of a client used by the user. Accordingly, it is desirablethat the user can perform an optimum printing operation in anenvironment of a print system used by the user, without being consciousof the server-side making function and the client-side making function.For that purpose, it is desirable that the client-side making functionis used if software for the client-side making function is installed inthe terminal of a client operated by the user, and that server-sidemaking function is used if the software is not installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-describedproblems.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a print systemconsisting of a server and a client includes acquisition means foracquiring a template for generating print data corresponding toinformation displayed at the client, and data to be inserted in thetemplate, in response to a request from the client, generation means forgenerating the print data corresponding to the displayed information,based on the template and the data acquired by the acquisition means,function acquisition means for acquiring information about a function ofthe client, and determination means for determining whether the templateand the data acquired by the acquisition means are to be transferredfrom the server to the client, or the print data generated by thegeneration means is to be transferred from the server to the client, inaccordance with the information acquired by the function acquisitionmeans.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an informationprocessing apparatus capable of communicating with an external apparatusincludes acquisition means for acquiring a template for generating printdata corresponding to information displayed at the external apparatus,and data to be inserted in the template, in response to a request fromthe external apparatus, generation means for generating the print datacorresponding to the displayed information, based on the template andthe data acquired by the acquisition means, function acquisition meansfor acquiring information about a function of the external apparatus,and determination means for determining whether the template and thedata acquired by the acquisition means are to be transferred to theexternal apparatus, or the print data generated by the generation meansis to be transferred to the external apparatus, in accordance with theinformation acquired by the function acquisition means.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a program tobe executed in an information processing apparatus capable ofcommunicating with an external apparatus includes steps to be executedby a computer. The steps includes an acquisition step of acquiring atemplate for generating print data corresponding to informationdisplayed at the external apparatus, and data to be inserted in thetemplate, in response to a request from the external apparatus, ageneration step of generating the print data corresponding to thedisplayed information, based on the template and the data acquired inthe acquisition step, a function acquisition step of acquiringinformation about a function of the external apparatus, and adetermination step of determining whether the template and the dataacquired in the acquisition step are to be transferred to the externalapparatus, or the print data generated in the generation step is to betransferred to the external apparatus, in accordance with theinformation acquired in the function acquisition step.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a storagemedium capable of being read by a computer in which a program to beexecuted in an information processing apparatus capable of communicatingwith an external apparatus is stored includes steps to be executed by acomputer. The steps includes an acquisition step of acquiring a templatefor generating print data corresponding to information displayed at theexternal apparatus, and data to be inserted in the template, in responseto a request from the external apparatus, a generation step ofgenerating the print data corresponding to the displayed information,based on the template and the data acquired in the acquisition step, afunction acquisition step of acquiring information about a function ofthe external apparatus, and a determination step of determining whetherthe template and the data acquired in the acquisition step are to betransferred to the external apparatus, or the print data generated inthe generation step is to be transferred to the external apparatus, inaccordance with the information acquired in the function acquisitionstep.

According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, aninformation processing method in an information processing apparatuscapable of communicating with an external apparatus includes steps to beexecuted by the information processing apparatus. The steps includes anacquisition step of acquiring a template for generating print datacorresponding to information displayed at the external apparatus, anddata to be inserted in the template, in response to a request from theexternal apparatus, a generation step of generating the print datacorresponding to the displayed information, based on the template andthe data acquired in the acquisition step, a function acquisition stepof acquiring information about a function of the external apparatus, anda determination step of determining whether the template and the dataacquired in the acquisition step are to be transferred to the externalapparatus, or the print data generated in the generation step is to betransferred to the external apparatus, in accordance with theinformation acquired in the function acquisition step.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of adocument print system;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating display of a page for businessprocessing in a Web browser;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of a clientand a server:

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a document form used in printing;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a table of variable data to be embeddedin figure data;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing in which the serveractually generates document printing data and transmits the generateddata to the client;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the clientthat has received the document printing data transmitted from theserver;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing in which the server thathas received a request for printing from the client forms distributiondata;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating information included in a request forprinting (a HTTP request) that has received from the client;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a table for the server for specifyingdocument data and a document form necessary for image generation, basedon a document name included in the HTTP request;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating distribution data generated by theserver;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing in which the client thathas received the distribution data from the server generates and printsan image;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating information exchange between theserver and the client for forming a document;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating data formation/response processing;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a storage medium storing programcodes; and

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a method for supplying a computer withprogram codes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(Document Print System)

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of adocument print system.

In FIG. 1, an information processing apparatus 100 operates as a serverof the document print system (hereinafter abbreviated as a “server”). Adata storage unit 101 including databases stores data for each business.The data is, for example, provided in the form of a database. In somecases, data input from a Web browser is directly stored in the datastorage unit 101.

A document-form storage unit 102 stores document forms for printing thatare used when printing documents (also termed document-form data). Adocument form corresponds to each Web document read from the server by aclient. Accordingly, when the server transmits a Web documentcorresponding to a document form to the client, the server stores anidentifier corresponding to the Web document. An identifier for acorresponding Web document is provided for a document form stored in thedocument-form storage unit 102 as a document-form identifier.

A distribution-data generation unit 103 generates distribution dataobtained by synthesizing data and a document form necessary for imagegeneration, based on a request from the client.

A network-communication control unit 104 has a Web-server function. TheWeb-server function is a function to support the HTTP (Hyper TextTransfer Protocol), the FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and the like, andcan transmit a document data file (a Web document) or the like,described with the HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or the like,assigned by a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) to a client on a network inresponse to a request.

An image generation unit 105 forms document printing data in adetermined form. The image generation unit 105 forms document printingdata in a predetermined form which can be interpreted by a print outputunit 123, by combining a document form and data to be overlaid therein.A data processing unit 106 performs data processing in accordance withan application program for each business. A print-information analysisunit 107 performs determination of a printing capability of a client, orthe like.

An information processing apparatus 110 comprises a PC (personalcomputer) or the like, serving as a client of the document print system(hereinafter abbreviated as a “client”). A data input/output unit illinputs/outputs data from/to a server of the document-print system(hereinafter abbreviated as a “server”). The data input/output unit 110exchanges data with the server 100 via a network 150, such as atelephone line, a LAN (local area network) or the like, and performsprocessing for a layer lower than the HTTP. A data processing unit 112analyzes distribution data generated the distribution-data generationunit 103, and restores data and a document form necessary for imagegeneration from the data. A document-form temporary storage unit 113stores a document form restored by the data processing unit 112. Animage generation unit 115 forms document printing data in apredetermined form which can be interpreted by a print output unit 117,by combining a document form and data to be overlaid therein.

A Web browser 116 is an application program having the function ofdisplaying a document data file (a Web document) described by the HTMLor the like, and displays a Web document received from a Web server. TheWeb browser 116 has the function of not only displaying a Web documentbut also inputting data on a picture frame in accordance with thedescription of the HTML and transmitting the data to the Web server. TheWeb browser 116 acquires a Web document from the server in accordancewith the input URL. The client 110 has the client-side making functionwith the document-form storage unit 113, the data processing unit 112and the image generation unit 115. The print output unit 117 convertsdata formed by the image generation unit 115 into a form capable ofbeing output from a printer, and is generally called a printer driver.

An information processing apparatus 120 comprises a PC or the like,serving as a client of the document print system (hereinafterabbreviated as a “client”). However, the client 120 does not have theclient-side making function. A data input/output unit 121 inputs/outputsto/from a server of the document print system (hereinafter abbreviatedas a “server”). The data input/output unit 121 exchanges data with theserver 100 via the network 150, such as a telephone line, a LAN or thelike, and performs processing for a layer lower than the HTTP.

A Web browser 122 is an application program having the function ofdisplaying a document data file (a Web document) described by the HTMLor the like, and displays a Web document received from a Web server. TheWeb browser 116 has the function of not only displaying a Web documentbut also inputting data on a picture frame in accordance with thedescription of the HTML and transmitting the data to the Web server. TheWeb browser 122 acquires a Web document from the server in accordancewith the input URL. A print output unit 123 converts formed data into aform capable of being output from a printer, and is generally called aprinter driver.

Reference numeral 130 represents a printer. The network 150 connects theserver to the client, and comprises, for example, a LAN, the Internet ora radio. In this embodiment, the network 150 conforms to a communicationprocedure in a Web environment (for example, the TCP/IP (TransmissionControl Protocol/Internet Protocol), or the HTTP).

FIG. 3 is the hardware configuration of control of the client and theserver. A program corresponding to each of the unit 103-107, 111, 112,115-117, and 121-123 shown in FIG. 1 is loaded in a memory 303, and isrealized by being executed by a CPU (central processing unit) 302 of thecomputer. These programs, and the data storage unit 101, thedocument-form storage unit 102, the document-form temporary storage unit113 and a document-form permanent storage unit 114 are stored in anexternal memory 305, such as a hard disk. The external memory 305 maycomprise a detachable storage medium, such as a floppy disk or aCD(compact disc)-ROM(read-only memory).

A Web browser or an image is displayed on a display 304. An I/O(input/output) interface 306 is a port for performing connection withthe network 150, or an external apparatus such as a printer. The userperforms necessary input using a keyboard 301 or a pointing device.

(Display on a Web Browser)

Next, a print instruction from a Web browser (116 or 122) will bedescribed. By communicating with the data input/output unit 111 or 121,the server 100 performs reception and analysis of data input from a Webbrowser, data retrieval corresponding to the received data, andtransmission of the result of the retrieval to the data input/outputunit 111 or 121. The Web browser displays buttons in accordance with aWeb document distributed from the server. When the user depresses thebuttons, various requests are transmitted to the server via the datainput/output unit 111 or 121. These buttons are displayed on the displayof the computer, and are selected and depressed by inputs from apointing device, such as a mouse, or a keyboard.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating display of a page for businessprocessing at the Web browser. A printing button in the document printsystem is provided on an image display region of the Web browser.

Reference numeral 201 represents a window of the Web browser displayedon a monitor or a display device of the client. A window title isdisplayed in an area 202. Commands possessed by the Web browser aredisplayed in areas 203 and 204. A command for printing an imagedisplayed at the Web browser is also included in these areas. Referencenumeral 205 represents a text field for inputting an address (such as aURL) of the server to be accessed. The user can select respective itemsin fields 206 and 207. By depressing a display button 208, itemsselected by the user in columns of the fields 206 and 207 aretransmitted to the server, and a response from the server is awaited.The server generates display data (HTML document data for display) of adocument based on a document name selected from the field 206 and thename of a person selected from the field 207, and transmits thegenerated data to the client. The Web server displays an image of thedocument 209 based on the document display data.

In the case of FIG. 2, the server acquires data relating to the statusof work of Mr. Soseki Natsume by retrieving the data storage unit 101,generates document display data (a Web document for displaying the imageof the document in this case) based on the acquired data, and transmitsthe generated data to the client. Then, the monthly document 209 isdisplayed at the browser. Reference numeral 210 represents a printingbutton in the document print system.

When reading the page of a document of the server from the client, theWeb browser is started at the client. When the user inputshttp://202.228.102 as shown in FIG. 2, Web document data including thecolumns 206-210 is transmitted from the server to the Web browser.

(Server-Side Making Function)

A description will now be described of the operation when the printingbutton 210 is depressed in the Web browser 122 of the client 120 whichdoes not have the client-side making function. In a printing operation,a document to be printed is formed by inserting data in a document formfor printing which corresponds to a form identifier. When the printingbutton 210 is depressed, information indicating depression of theprinting button 210 is transmitted to the server. The server retrieves adocument form stored in the document-form storage unit 102, based on anidentifier attached to a Web document (a document page) transmitted tothe client that has requested printing. Each document form is stored soas to be retrievable using a form identifier.

FIG. 4 illustrates a document form used for printing. Figure data(document data) in the document form is classified into fixed data andvariable data. A character string of the document title 401, numerals402 indicating frames, dates and the like, and character strings andframes 403 are fixed data. Values (document data) retrieved from thedatabase or the like are embedded in s2, n1-n12, n50 and n51 of theareas 404 and 405.

FIG. 5 is a table of variable data to be embedded in the figure datashown in FIG. 4.

This table is prepared for each document form. A document-formidentifier 504 is attached so as to identify a document form. In thetable shown in FIG. 5, an index 501 of variable data, the size of acharacter to be displayed 502 of the variable data, and an actual value(a numeral string or a character string) 503 of the variable data arestored for each of the variable data s1, and n1-n51. By merging thedocument form shown in FIG. 4 and the value of each variable data shownin FIG. 5 based on the corresponding index, document printing data isformed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing in which the serveractually generates document printing data and transmits the generateddata to the client 120. This processing is executed by the server uponreception of information indicating depression of the printing button210. Steps S701-S704, S705-S706, and S707 are performed by the dataprocessing unit 106, the image generation unit 105, and thenetwork-communication control unit 104, respectively.

When the server has received the notification of depression of theprinting button 210 in step S601, then, in step S602, a document form tobe used is retrieved. Since the identifier of the Web document alreadytransmitted to the client is stored, the document form to be used can beretrieved based on the stored identifier.

In step S603, the position of the column of variable data to be includedwithin the document form detected by the retrieval is detected. Then, instep S604, index data is formed. That is, the value of variable data inthe table shown in FIG. 5 is described so as to be adjusted to theposition of the column of the variable data that has been extracted instep S603, in accordance with the index. Thus, the index data describingthe portion of the variable data is obtained.

Then, in step S605, the image generation unit 105 merges the fixed-dataportion of the document form obtained in step S602 and the index dataformed in step S604. In step S606, the image generation unit 105 formsdocument printing data described in an actual image form, i.e., a formwhich can be interpreted by the print output unit 117, based on themerged data formed in step S605.

In step S607, the document printing data formed in step S606 istransmitted to the client 120. Although in this step, data istransmitted to the client 120, the URL of the data file of the formeddocument printing data may be transmitted to the client 120, instead oftransmitting the formed document printing data itself to the client. Insuch a case, the client 120 receives the data file from the server byautomatically requesting transmission of the data file utilizing the FTPinstead of the HTTP, by using the URL received by the Web browser.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing by the client 120 that hasreceived the document printing data transmitted from the server in stepS607 shown in FIG. 6.

First, in step S701, the print output unit 123 analyzes the receiveddocument printing data, and finds a printer adapted to the receiveddocument printing data. In the case of FIG. 1, since only a singleprinter is present, the printer 130 is selected. In step S702, the printoutput unit 123 generates print-image data which can be output from theprinter 130, based on the result of the analysis. In step S703, thegenerated data is stored in a print spool. Then, print-image data issequentially output to the printer 130. The above-described processingis repeated until all the received document printing data is analyzedand is converted into print-image data.

According to the above-described procedure, it is possible to assignoutput data from the client using the Web browser, and perform printingin an appropriate form. In contrast to a case in which a displayeddocument is printed, by printing a document using a document form formedfor printing, an image formed using the Web browser can be output as ahigh-quality print. Either of the server and the client can cause aprinter of any of the server and the client to print a high-qualitydocument in accordance with the user's convenience. Only the serverholds document forms and synthesizes data with a corresponding documentform. Hence, the client can print a high-quality document via the serverif a commercially available Web browser is prepared. Accordingly, theload of the client is low, and the client can utilize an inexpensivepersonal computer, or a portable information terminal only having aWeb-browser function.

(Client-Side Making Function)

Although in the above-described document print system, the servergenerates document printing data, it is also possible that the servertransmits necessary document form and document data to the client, andthe client generates document printing data. This function is termed aclient-side making function.

A description will now be provided of the flow for generating andoutputting document printing data by the client 110 having theclient-side making function. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the flowof processing in which the server that has received a request forprinting from the client 110 forms distribution data. Steps S1001-S1005are executed by the distribution-data generation unit 103, and stepS1006 is executed by the network-communication control unit 104.

First, in step S801, a request received from the Web browser 116 (a HTTPrequest) is analyzed. In steps S802 and 803, data necessary forgenerating document printing data requested by the client, particularlya document form and document data, are specified. In step S804, printerinformation, the number of prints and the like (generically termed“printing conditions”) when the printer executes a printing operationafter the client has generated an image are specified.

In step S805, the sets of information necessary for image generationspecified in steps S802-S804 are synthesized into single data, servingas distribution data. In step S806, the formed distribution data istransmitted to the client 110.

FIG. 9 illustrates information included in the request of printing (HTTPrequest) received from the client. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 901represents the HTTP request itself transmitted from the client.Reference numeral 902 represents output-printer information relating toa printer assigned by the client. Reference numeral 903 representsconditions during a printing operation to be assigned at imagegeneration, such as the document name, the number of prints, assignmentof duplex/simplex printing, and assignment of a tray of the printer.Reference numeral 904 represents the name of the document to be printedthat has been selected by the client.

FIG. 10 illustrates a table 1001 for specifying document data and adocument form (document template) necessary for generating an image,based on the document name included in the HTTP request. The table 1001indicates combinations of document data and a document formcorresponding to document names.

In this table 1001, document names 1002, 1004, - - - , 1006, anddocument data and document forms 1003, 1005, - - - , 1007, respectively,corresponding to documents are stored for respective documents.Reference numeral 1005 indicates that a plurality of document forms arenecessary. Document data and a document form are extracted by retrievingthe table shown in FIG. 10 based on the document name included in theHTTP request.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating distribution data generated by theserver. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1101 represents the entirety ofdistribution data to be distributed to the client. Reference numeral1102 represents a header portion of the distribution data.Output-printer information is stored in a field 1103. Informationrelating to printing conditions is stored in a field 1104. Referencenumeral 1105 represents a data portion of the distribution data. Datanecessary for image generation is stored in a field 1106. A documentform is stored in a corresponding one of fields 1107-1108. Even if aplurality of document forms are present, respective document forms canbe consecutively stored in the data portion 1105.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing in which the client thathas received distribution data distributed from the server generates animage and executes printing of the image. Steps S1201, S1202-1204, S1205and S1206 are executed by the data input/output unit iii, the dataprocessing unit 112, the image generation unit 115 and the print outputunit 117, respectively.

In step S1201, distribution data formed by the server is received. Instep S1202, printing conditions are extracted from the distribution datareceived in step S1201, and are stored in the memory. In step S1203,document data necessary for printing a document is extracted, and isstored as a file. In step S1204, a document form necessary forgenerating an image is extracted, and is stored as a file.

In step S1205, document printing data is generated based on the sets ofinformation extracted in steps S1202-S1204. The method for generatingthe document printing data at that time is the same as the method ofsteps S602-S606. In step S1206, the print output unit 117 converts thedocument printing data into print-image data, and transmits the obtaineddata to the printer.

(Determination of a Function)

In the foregoing description, the printing processing using theserver-side making function and the printing processing using theclient-side making function are separately explained. In the followingdescription, a procedure in which printing processing is performed bydetermining whether the server-side making function is to be used or theclient-side making function is to be used will be explained.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating information exchange between theserver and the client for forming a document. In steps S1301 and S1302,the Web browser of the client announces start of processing for printinga document to the server. That is, a session is started between theclient and the server. Upon start of the session, then, in step S1303,the server distributes data (HTML data) of a page for which documentformation is urged, to the client.

In step S1304, the Web browser of the client displays the data to theuser, and the user inputs various data. Upon completion of a series ofdata inputs, then, in step S1305, the client transmits a request to forma document to the server.

In step S1306, the server forms data of a document in response to therequest from the client. Then, in step 81307, an execution module(termed a “plug-in”) which can be executed by the client is attached todata to be transmitted to the client. Then, in step S1308, the dataincluding the execution module is transmitted to the client.

By thus transmitting the plug-in from the server to the client andcausing the client to execute the plug-in, the client need not have inadvance particular software for determining a function. Furthermore,since the determination of a function can be automatically performed,the user need not know the details of the print system, and therefore aprint system convenient for the user can be provided.

The client displays, in step S1309, the data transmitted from the user,and executes, in step S1310, the plug-in transmitted from the server.The plug-in can be automatically executed, and the status of executioncan be transmitted. In step S1311, the executed plug-in determineswhether or not an environment allowing the client-side making functionis present at the client. In this determination, for example, it isdetected whether or not software corresponding to the data processingunit 112 or the image generation unit 115 is installed at the client. Ifit is confirmed that such software is installed, it is then determinedthat the client-side making function can be used.

If the client-side making function cannot be used, the plug-in isterminated as an error. If the client-side making function can be used,the plug-in is normally terminated. In step S1312, the plug-in notifiesthe server of a status indicating whether or not the client-side makingfunction can be used. In step S1313, the server can know whether or notthe client of the current session can execute the client-side makingfunction.

Thereafter, if a request for a printing operation is generated at theclient, then, in step S1314, the client transmits a request for aprinting operation to the server. In step S1315, the server generatesdocument printing data or distribution data, and transmits one of thesedata to the client. Then, in step S1316, the client prints a documentusing the document printing data or the distribution data.

A feature in this processing is that an environment at the client isevaluated in step S1311, and the server recognizes the environment atthe client. According to this recognition, the server can determine, instep S1315, whether or not expensive image generation is to beperformed, i.e., whether document printing data is to be generated andtransmitted, or only data is to be distributed, i.e., whether or notdistribution data including a document form and data is to be generatedand transmitted.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating data formation/response processingin step S1315 shown in FIG. 13. In this processing, the client requestsformation of appropriate data corresponding to the client's capability.The data may printing-image data itself, or smaller data including textdata and a document form.

In step S1401, the environment at the client that has already been knownwithin the cession is again confirmed. Then, in step S1402, datanecessary for document formation that has been formed within the cessionis prepared. Actually, the data is reedited in a determined form, suchas the CSV (Customized System Volume) form or the XML (Extensible MarkupLanguage) form. Then, in step S1403, a form for a document to be used isretrieved.

In step S1404, it is determined whether the server-side making functionis to be used, i.e., printing data in this session is to be transmittedto the client after forming document printing data within the server, orthe client-side making function is to be used, i.e., a text and adocument form are to be distributed to the client.

When using the server-side making function, image generation processingis performed within the server in step S1406. The processing at thattime is as shown in FIG. 6. When it has been determined that theclient-side making function can be used, processing of generatingdistribution data is performed in step S1405. The processing at thattime is as shown in FIG. 8.

Then, in step S1407, the distribution data formed in step S1405 or thedocument printing data formed in step S1406 is transmitted to theclient.

(Method for Supplying Control Programs)

Programs and related data according to the present invention are storedin a floppy disk (FD) or a CD-ROM, which supplies a computer with thestored data. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a memory map in a statein which the programs and related data according to the presentinvention are stored in a FD or CD-ROM. The storage region of the FD orCD-ROM includes volume information, directory information, executionfiles relating to the program (program codes) according to the presentinvention, and related-data file of job accounts.

The object of the present invention is achieved by supplying, as shownin FIG. 16, a computer with a storage medium (see FIG. 15) storingprogram codes of software (a control program) for realizing thefunctions of the above-described embodiment, and reading and executingthe program codes stored in the storage medium by means of a device (aCPU 302) of the computer.

As shown in FIG. 16, a method for supplying a computer main body 1602with a program or data as shown in FIG. 15 by storing the program ordata in a floppy disk FD 1600 is generally adopted. In this case,program codes themselves read from the storage medium realize thefunctions of the above-described embodiment, so that the program codesand the storage medium storing the program codes constitute the presentinvention.

For example, an optical disk, a magnetooptical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R(recordable), a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM or thelike other than a floppy disk or a hard disk may also be used as thestorage medium for supplying the program codes.

The present invention may, of course, be applied not only to a case inwhich the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized byexecuting program codes read by a computer, but also to a case in whichan OS (operating system) or the like operating in a computer executes apart or the entirety of actual processing, and the functions of theabove-described embodiment are realized by the processing.

The present invention may, of course, be applied to a case in which,after writing program codes read from a storage medium into a memoryprovided in a function expanding board inserted into a computer or in afunction expanding unit connected to the computer, a CPU or the likeprovided in the function expanding board or the function expanding unitperforms a part or the entirety of actual processing, and the functionsof the above-described embodiment are realized by the processing.

As described above, according to the present invention, a user intendingto print a document or the like via a Web browser can perform printingby obtaining data necessary for document printing according to anoptimum method without being conscious of an environment of a clientused by the user, and can form a document without concerning the load ofa network and the load of a server.

Particularly, by transmitting a program for determining whether or not aclient has a function of generating printing data, from a server to theclient, and causing the client to execute the program, the client neednot have in advance particular software for determining a function.Furthermore, since the determination of a function is automaticallyperformed, the user need not know the details of a print system, andtherefore it is possible to provide a print system which is convenientfor the user.

The individual components shown in outline or designated by blocks inthe drawings are all well known in the print system and informationprocessing apparatus arts and their specific construction and operationare not critical to the operation of the best mode for carrying out theinvention.

While the present invention has been described with respect to what ispresently considered to be the preferred embodiment, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiment. To the contrary, the present invention is intended to covervarious modifications and equivalent arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the followingclaims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompassall such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

1. A print system comprising a server and a client, wherein the serverincludes: acquisition means for acquiring a template for generatinginserted data corresponding to information displayed at a client, anddata to be inserted in the template, in response to a request from theclient; generation means for generating the inserted data correspondingto the displayed information, by inserting the data into the templateacquired by said acquisition means; selection means for selecting atleast one transmission method from plural transmission methods, inaccordance with information transmitted from the client, wherein theplural transmission methods include at least a first transmissionmethod, in which the template and the data are transmitted to the clientwithout insertion processing, and a second transmission method, in whichthe inserted data generated by the generation means is transmitted tothe client; and program transfer means for transferring to the client aprogram for determining whether the client has a function of generatingthe inserted data by inserting the data into the template acquired bythe acquisition means, wherein the selection means selects the at leastone transmission method in accordance with information indicating thefunction of the client obtained from the program transferred to theclient by the program transfer means.
 2. A print system according toclaim 1, wherein the template is a document form.
 3. A print systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the information is displayed by a Webbrowser based on display data transmitted to the client, and wherein therequest is transferred according to a communication from the Web browserof the client.
 4. A print system according to claim 3, wherein thedisplay data transmitted to the client is described in HTML (Hyper TextMarkup Language), and communications from the Web browser use HTTP(Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).
 5. An information processing apparatusthat communicates with a client, the information processing apparatuscomprising: acquisition means for acquiring a template for generatinginserted data corresponding to information displayed at the client, anddata to be inserted in the template, in response to a request from theclient; generation means for generating the inserted data correspondingto the displayed information, by inserting the data into the templateacquired by the acquisition means; selection means for selecting atleast one transmission method from plural transmission methods, inaccordance with information transmitted from the client, wherein theplural transmission methods include at least a first transmissionmethod, in which the template and the data are transmitted to the clientwithout insertion processing, and a second transmission method, in whichthe inserted data generated by the generation means is transmitted tothe client; and program transfer means for transferring to the client aprogram for determining whether the client has a function of generatingthe inserted data by inserting the data into the template acquired bythe acquisition means, wherein the selection means selects the at leastone transmission method in accordance with information indicating thefunction of the client obtained from the program transferred to theclient by the program transfer means.
 6. An information processingapparatus according to claim 5, wherein the template is a document form.7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein theinformation is displayed by a Web browser of the client based on displaydata transmitted to the client, and wherein the request is transferredaccording to a communication from the Web browser of the client.
 8. Aninformation processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein thedisplay data transmitted to the client is described in HTML (Hyper TextMarkup Language), and communications with the Web browser of the clientuse HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).
 9. An information processingmethod performed by an information processing apparatus that includes acentral processing unit coupled to a memory unit storing a program forcommunicating with a client, the information processing methodcomprising: acquiring, by the central processing unit, a template forgenerating inserted data corresponding to information displayed at theclient, and data to be inserted in the template, in response to arequest from the client; generating the inserted data corresponding tothe displayed information, by inserting the data into the templateacquired by the acquiring; selecting at least one transmission methodfrom plural transmission methods, in accordance with informationtransmitted from the client, wherein the plural transmission methodsinclude at least a first transmission method, in which the template andthe data are transmitted to the client without insertion processing, anda second transmission method, in which the inserted data generated bythe generating is transmitted to the client; and transferring, by thecentral processing unit, from the information processing apparatus tothe client a program for determining whether the client has a functionof generating the inserted data by inserting the data into the templateacquired by the acquiring wherein the at least one transmission methodis selected in accordance with information indicating the function ofthe client obtained from the program transferred from the informationprocessing apparatus to the client.
 10. An information processing methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the template is a document form.
 11. Aninformation processing method according to claim 9, wherein theinformation is displayed by a Web browser of the client based on displaydata transmitted from the information processing apparatus to theclient, and wherein the request is transferred according to acommunication from the Web browser of the client to a Web server of theinformation processing apparatus.
 12. An information processing methodaccording to claim 11, wherein the display data transmitted from theinformation processing apparatus to the client is described in HTML(Hyper Text Markup Language), and the Web browser and the Web servercommunicate using HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).
 13. Acomputer-readable storage medium storing a program, in executable form,for performing an information processing method used by an informationprocessing apparatus to communicate with a client, the programcomprising: code for acquiring a template for generating inserted datacorresponding to information displayed at the client, and data to beinserted in the template, in response to a request from the client; codefor generating the inserted data corresponding to the displayedinformation, by inserting the data into the template acquired by thecode for said acquiring; code for selecting at least one transmissionmethod from plural transmission methods, in accordance with informationtransmitted from the client, wherein the plural transmission methodsinclude at least a first transmission method, in which the template andthe data are transmitted to the client without insertion processing, anda second transmission method, in which the inserted data generated bythe information processing apparatus is transmitted to the client; andcode for transferring to the client a program for determining whetherthe client has a function of generating the inserted data by insertingthe data into the template acquired by execution of the code foracquiring wherein the at least one transmission method is selected inaccordance with information indicating the function of the clientobtained from the program transferred to the client by execution of thecode for transferring.
 14. A computer-readable storage medium accordingto claim 13, wherein the template is a document form.
 15. Acomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein theinformation is displayed by a Web browser of the client based on displaydata transmitted to the client, and wherein the request is transferredaccording to a communication from the Web browser of the client.
 16. Acomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein thedisplay data transmitted to the client is described in HTML (Hyper TextMarkup Language), and communications with the Web browser use HTTP(Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).